Hundreds gather for same-sex marriage vigil in Santa Cruz

J.M. Brown - Sentinel staff writer

Posted:
12/20/2008 07:15:54 PM PST

Updated:
12/20/2008 07:18:15 PM PST

SANTA CRUZ - Looking out into a sea of candlelight beaming from inside rainbow-colored paper cups, 100 troubadours from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus gathered around the Town Clock singing, "Everywhere I go, I'm going to let it shine."

Two hours before performing at First Congregational Church, the chorus opened a vigil Saturday that was timed with other rallies statewide in support of same-sex marriage. Several hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight friends gathered to hold hands, sing and sign petitions to revoke Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that overturned a California Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.

After leading a five-song set that included "This Little Light of Mine" and the social justice anthem "We Shall Overcome," associate artistic director Carl Pantle said the chorus loves to get out of the big city and soak up the affirming spirit of other towns.

"Singing is a great way to bring people together," Pantle said. "It promotes harmony among people."

At least 10 members of 30-year-old choir - which first performed at San Francisco City Hall the night gay rights icon Harvey Milk was killed - are married and could lose their legal status if the high court declines to throw out Proposition 8. Proceeds from the choir's show at First Congregational Church benefit the church's permanent endowment for LGBT outreach.

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More than 70 percent of Santa Cruz County voters voted against Proposition 8. Teresa Macedo and husband Brady Umfleet of Live Oak, who are members of the church, attended the vigil to oppose what they see as discrimination.

"It makes our marriage less valid if we have more rights as a heterosexual couple," said Umfleet, who is working on his master's degree in social work at San Jose State University. "It puts into practice Christ and being spiritual and living to see interaction between straight and gay friends and colleagues."

"To me, it's just fundamental equality," Macedo, a sociology instructor at Cabrillo College, said about why she supports rights of same-sex couples and families. "I don't want to live in a society where equality isn't sanctioned, especially by the government."

Supporters of same-sex marriage will have to wait until the spring for the high court to hear arguments to nullify or uphold Proposition 8, but the last few days have brought several ups and downs.

President-elect Barack Obama, who drew strong support from gay and lesbian voters, chose the Rev. Rick Warren, a nationally known pastor and author, to give the invocation at his inauguration. The move - which Obama said was designed to foster diversity of opinion - stirred outrage and confusion among the LGBT community because Warren was a vocal proponent of Proposition 8 and has compared gay people to pedophiles.

But later in the week, California Attorney General Jerry Brown announced publicly he will support revoking Proposition 8, which advocates of same-sex marriage said gave them an emotional boost.

Teacher Alysia Sharief, who oversees a gay-straight student alliance at Watsonville High School, said just being with other gay people and straight allies Saturday was healing.

"When I walked into the crowd and heard the singing, it was so uplifting," she said.